Sunburn

Using shade sails in your garden is a great way to protect your family from the harmful effects of the sun in Spain.

The dangers of not protecting yourself from the sun is well publicised and we know that sun protection is very important for children and adults alike. But how can we do this easily when we enjoy so much outside living in Spain? Spain offers so much wonderful weather and it is important to consider safety as a main priority so as not to get sunburn and risk the chances of skin cancers.

What is sunburn?

SunburnA sunburn is a burn to living tissue, such as skin, which is produced by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, most commonly from the sun’s rays. An excess of UV radiation can be life-threatening in extreme cases.

Usual symptoms of sunburn include the skin becoming red and tender and hot to the touch. Blisters are sometimes formed and skin peeling on sunburned areas can occur for several days after the sunburn. General fatigue is commonly experienced, as is mild dizziness. Severe reactions (sometimes called ‘sun poisoning’) includes fever, chills, nausea or rash.

Relief from sunburn

Sunburns can be relieved with store bought creams or with homemade remedies such as:

  • Mashing a carrot and applying it directly to the affected area. Cover with cheesecloth and let stand for three hours.
  • Slicing a cucumber or potato or medium apple and applying it to the affected area.
  • Blending the pulp of a melon and applying it on the burn for 10 minutes.

Obviously nobody wants to spend their vacation time or summer looking or smelling like a human salad so prevention is better than cure (we shall cover this subject more thoroughly in part two). Although the burn itself is uncomfortable, but bearable, the dangers it poses for the future are more important.

Skin cancer by ageSkin cancer is the most common form of cancer in humans and more than half of all new cancers are skin cancers. Sunburns are the main cause of skin cancer. In recent years there has been a high rate of skin cancer, which has increased since 1998. Daily exposure to the sun has led to an alarming increase in cases of skin cancer among children and about half the number of cases of melanoma occur in people over 50 years old.

The truth is that skin cancer is 100% preventable by achieving a balance between enjoying the outdoors and decreasing risk factors. Read part two of this article to find out ways to protect you and your family from harmful UV radiation.

Please note: Sunburn can be dangerous in extreme cases so if you feel unwell please seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Article written by Carrie Ann Christopher – 27/02/2011

© 2011 Coolashade Shade Sails Spain

  1. how to prove the shade sails material can be block the head from sun?

    1. Hello Amanda,
      The Coolashade Shade Sails are made from a special shade cloth, High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), that has been proven to block heat and UV rays. It has been developed and extensively tested in Australia and is proven to offer up to 95% protection from UV rays. Similar to sun block. You can read more about shade sails here, and this article ‘Protection Plus without the Fuss‘ explains how a shade sail can be used.
      Hope this helps.
      Rob Harris

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